Events and Exhibitions | Nicholas II

Tsesarevich Alexei exhibition opens in Moscow

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

Clicke HERE to watch a VIDEO – Duration: 2 mins., 30 secs.

On 12th August 2024, a new exhibition dedicated to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich opened at the Museum of Military Uniforms in Moscow. The exhibition is timed to the 120th anniversary of his birth on 12th August (O.S. 30th July) 1904.

The exhibition “If one day I became Tsar…” was organized by the Russian Military Historical Society, the The Museum of Education (Moscow) and the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), as well as from private collections..

Visitors to the exhibition will have an opportunity to see authentic items which belonged to Alexei Nikolaevich, including toys, drawings, and his personal belongings. In addition are photographs and documents. Of particular note are a series of watercolours depicting Alexei’s rooms in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

The opening ceremony was attended by Andrei Kokhan, Deputy Executive Director of the History of the Fatherland Foundation:

“120 years ago, an heir was born in the Imperial Family. His birth marked a new era, which was to be happy for the Russian people. However, his death, which coincided with one of the darkest and most terrible events of our Fatherland, unfortunately extinguished these hopes and dreams,” said Kokhan.

“For many decades, the history of the Imperial Family was not considered in Russian historiography. It was, by and large, forgotten. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, however, Russians took a keen interest in their past, the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar and his family in particular. The Romanov archives, which were sealed during the Soviet years, revealed documents and photographs which helped reshape Russia’s history. The canonization of the Tsar and his family by the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000, helped present the lives of the Imperial Family in a whole new light. Today, Nicholas II and his family are the subjects of countless books, in addition to exhibitions, documentaries, films and conferences, among other events. I am sure that the exhibition opening today will make a great contribution to the study and rethinking of the events of late 19th to early 20th century Russian history,” he added.

The exhibition explores the short but important life about the boy whom everyone adored. Alexei combined unique qualities, none of which any of the Romanov grand dukes could boast of. “When I am Tsar, there will be no more poor and unfortunate! I want everyone to be happy,” he often repeated. Those who knew him personally were sure that with the Tsesarevich Alexei’s ascension to the throne, that the golden age of the Russian Empire would begin. Sadly, it was not to be.

The exhibition “If one day I became Tsar…” opens to the public on 13th August 2024 and runs until 16th February 2025, at the Museum of Military Uniforms in Moscow.

Update on the next Nicholas II Conference

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

I continue to receive emails and messages from people enquiring about another Nicholas II Conference. First of all, I would like to say how grateful I am for the interest and support shown for this event. In answer to all these queries, I can say that YES!, I am intend planning on organizing and hosting a second conference. I can also confirm that several discussions on the proposed event have already taken place.

Once this dreadful war is over, I have every intention of hosting a 2nd International Nicholas II Conference, which will most likely be held in the UK.

As some of you may recall, my initial plan to host the conference in May 2021 at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

My second attempt to host the conference in September 2023 at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester, England was also cancelled, due to the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

So, will I have better luck the third time?

The number of people who have followed my work, since the 1st conference in October 2018, has grown substantially, especially in the UK, therefore, I am anticipating an even larger number of attendees at the next conference.

Stay tuned for further updates on dates, venue, speakers, topics, and much more.

PHOTO: this is the first of two 6-ft. banners, that I have
designed for the 2nd International Nicholas II Conference

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1st International Nicholas II Conference
St. John’s Orthodox Church, Colchcester, England
27th October 2018

PHOTO: researcher and author Paul Gilbert presenting one of his two lectures on Nicholas II, at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester, England. 27th October 2018

The 1st International Nicholas II Conference was timed to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Nicholas II in 1868, and the 100th anniversary of his death and martyrdom in 1918.

More than 100 people from nearly a dozen countries attended the event, which featured 5 speakers, who presented 7 lectures on the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar, including Paul Gilbert, Archpriest Andrew Philips (ROCOR), Nikolai Krasnov, authors Frances Welch and Marilyn Swezey presented seven papers on Nicholas II.

In addition, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society UK provided a small exhibit, which generated much interest among those attending. Two stalls were set up during the conference, which offer an interesting selection of new book titles for sale. A light lunch was provided for those attending.

Click HERE to read more about the 1st International Nicholas II Conference in Colchester, England, which includes photos from the event.

Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Exhibition opens in Livadia Palace

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 1st August 2024, a new exhibition dedicated to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918) opened at Livadia Palace in Crimea. The exhibition simply titled “Наследник / Heir” is timed to the 120th anniversary of the birth of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, who was born on 12th (O.S. 30th July) August 1904.

The grand opening of the exhibition on 1st August was attended by those who received invitions and to members of the press. The exhibit opened to visitors the following day, in the Music Room, located on the second floor of the palace.

Visitors to the exhbition will see authentic items from Tsesarevich Alexei’s rooms, and which are now in the collection of the Livadia State Palace-Museum. Among these items are religious paintings and sketches, including a sketch entitled “Bayan” by the famous Russian artist Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (one of Nicholas II’s favourite artists), and “The Tsar’s Family in Livadia” a watercolour by Elena Samokish-Sudkovskaya, as well as pieces of furniture, photographs, etc.

The exhibition explores Alexei’s short life [he was murdered just weeks before his 14th birthday], the long-awaited heir to the Russian throne, and beloved son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The exhibition looks at his hobbies, the close ties he shared with his parents, sisters and tutors, the piety of the family, and the happy times Alexei spent in Livadia. In addition, the exhibit looks at the First World War and Alexei’s visits and stays with the Tsar at Mogilev. In the last part of the exhibition, visitors will see rare artifacts associated with the tragic death of the Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg in July 1918.

The exhibition will be complemented by authentic items from the collection of the Yalta Historical and Literary Museum, the archive of the Livadia Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross as well as from private collections.

The exhibition “Наследник / Heir” is open to visitors in the Music Room of the Livadia Palace, from 2nd August to 19th August 2024.

CLICK on the IMAGE above to watch the VIDEO. Duration: 2 mins., 47 secs.

NOTE: the video is in Russian only, however, you can watch an English language version by
clicking on the Closed Captioning [CC] button and adjusting Google Translate to English. ENJOY!

Visitors to the museum will see authentic items from the museum’s funds, once located in the rooms of the Tsarevich and other living rooms of the palace. Among them are engravings on religious subjects, the engraving “Bayan” from the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov, Elena Samokish-Sudkovskaya’s watercolor “The Royal Family in Livadia”, pieces of furniture, etc.

The exhibition will show the short life of the heir to the Russian throne, the most long-awaited child in the family of the last emperor – his hobbies, close ties with loved ones, the spiritual world of the family, happy times spent in Livadia. One of the topics will be the difficult period of the First World War and staying with the Tsar at headquarters. Also, visitors to the museum will see the rarest artifacts associated with the tragic death of the royal family in Yekaterinburg in 1918.

The opening of the exhibition “The Heir” will take place on August 1 at 12:00 in the Music Salon of the Livadia Palace. Admission by invitation.

The exhibition will be available to visitors from August 2 to August 19, 2024.

Mobile exhibit dedicated to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna opens in Ekaterinburg

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 15th July 2024, a mobile exhibition dedicated to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna opened at the Tsarsky Cultural and Educational Center, which is situated in the Patriarchal Compound of the Church on the Blood in Ekaterinburg.

The exhibit titled “I feel like the mother of this country…” The Christian Feat of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, was organized by the Elizabeth-Sergius Educational Society Foundation (ESPO), in cooperation with the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

For the first time, the exhibit gives a detailed story about the large-scale charitable activities of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, which include her participation in the establishment and work of the Guardianship of the Houses of Industry; the School of Nannies in Tsarskoye Selo; the development of medical institutions specializing in pediatric medicine, orthopedics, surgery and women’s health; as well as her feat of mercy during the First World War; her patronage of science, medicine; and the education of her children.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition in Ekaterinburg was attended by Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Pavel Krekov, Chairman of the Elizabeth-Sergius Educational Society Foundation (ESPO) Anna Gromova and Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye Evgeny.

The travelling exhibition was created in 2022, the year marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. For the past two years, the exhibition has been presented in cities and towns across Russia.

In an interview with journalists, Anna Gromova, Head of the ESPO Foundation, said that while the exhibition had been traveling around Russia, that it arouses great interest, since the theme of the exhibition reveals unknown facets of the charitable and selfless activities of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Pavel Krekov, Deputy Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, emphasized the extreme relevance of the exhibition, especially during this years Tsar’s Days events in the Ural capital.

Already on the first day of its work, the exhibition of the ESPO Foundation “I Feel Like the Mother of This Country…” The Christian Feat of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Empress Alexandra Feodorovna” was met with great interest by the residents and visitors, who arrived in the Ural capital for Tsar’s Days. Specialists of the ESPO Foundation have prepared a leaflet and a guide to the exhibition.

The sakkos from the coronation of Nicholas II on display in Russia for the first time

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

A new exhibition Russian Masters. Artistic Traditions and Ideals has opened at the State Museum of the History of Religion in St. Petersburg. The exhibition presents objects of the Orthodox liturgy and reveals their symbolic meaning, including vestments, censers, lampadas, crosses, icons in luxurious casings, and items of Russian silversmithing of the 19th-early 20th centuries.

Among the 100 items on display is an episcopal liturgical vestment – sakkos – which was made for the Orthodox clergy who participated in the Holy Coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, held in Moscow on 27th May (O.S. 14th) May 1896. It is made of a rich brocade fabric and intricately decorated with traditional Russian eagles. The sakkos is being exhibited for the very first time.

The exhibition Russian Masters. Artistic Traditions and Ideals runs until 25th January 2025.

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The sakkos is a vestment worn by Orthodox bishops instead of the priest’s phelonion. The bishop wears the sakkos when he celebrates the Divine Liturgy and other services when called out by the rubrics.

Photo exhibit dedicated to the Imperial Family opens in Belgrade

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 14th June 2024, a small photo exhibition dedicated to Emperor Nicholas II and his family opened in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. The exhibition Christian Love Is Stronger Than Death features 100 vintage black and white photographs.

The exhibition project was created with the desire and goal of introducing the personalities and deeds of the last Russian Tsar and his family to the Serbian people. The exhibition’s organizers hope to awaken the memory of the Imperial Family, get to know more closely about the life and sacrificial service of the last Russian Tsar, his wife and their five children. In doing so, the organizers made an effort in selecting photos which reflect the beauty of the Imperial Family, their everyday life and service for the benefit of the Fatherland and its people.

The exhibition consists of black-and-white photographs from historical archives and personal albums of the Imperial Family. The exhibition is thematically divided into three sections. The first section features photos of Nicholas II and his family, taking part in events, such as parades and processions, etc. This section of photos reflect all the beauty of the Slavic character, and also provides insight into the fashion and style of clothing from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The second second section features photographs from the personal albums of the Imperial Family, all of whom were avid amateur photographers. It is well known that Nicholas II was especially fond of photography. Many of these images are informal and taken spontaneous, often capturing their subject in natural settings, carefree, laughing and enjoying their close knit family time. In these photographs, visitors will see members of the Imperial Family walking and resting in the Alexander Park at Tsarskoye Selo or Livadia, the August children playing games, taking part in their favourite outdoor activities, etc. These photos are considered rare, only because they were taken by family members and never intended for public display.

The third and last section of the exhibition features photos of military themes. They depict the Emperor blessing his troops before going to war, trying out new weapons used by his army, presenting orders and medals, and introducing his son and heir to the secrets of warfare.

This section also includes photos of the Empress and her four daughters engaged in humanitarian work. They visited the wounded, helped sick soldiers with deeds and kind words. From their diaries, it is known that they assisted even in the most difficult operations. Their acts of mercy are documented while nursing soldiers.

The collection of photographs of the Imperial Family was provided by Hieromonk Ignatius (Shestakov), a brother of the Sreten Monastery in Moscow, who is also one of the exhibitions organizers.

The Christian Love Is Stronger Than Death exhibition runs from 14th to 20th June 2024 at at 17 Kralja Milana Street (across from Belgradeanka) in the Serbian capital.

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*As I have noted in similiar posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in post-Soviet Russia – PG

‘The Romanov Family Album’ exhibition opens in the Moscow District

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 19th May 2024 – the day marking the 156th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Nicholas II – a new exhibition The Romanov Family Album, opened in the House of Scientists in Pushchino, a town in the Moscow region.

The highlight of the exhibition is a group of seven portraits of the Imperial Family, by the contemporary Russian artist and Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Evgeny Schaeffer [b. 1954], who now lives in Germany.

According to Schaefer, “The Romanovs. Family Album exhibition, is not just a collection of paintings and photographs, it is an attempt to comprehend the tragic story of the murder of the the Tsar and his family in Ekaterinburg in 1918. The exhibition, is also an opportunity to rethink history through the prism of modern research and aesthetics”.

PHOTOS: Evgeny Schaeffer’s portraits of the Imperial Family are on display in the exhibition (above); detail of his portrait of Emperor Nicholas II (below)

Evgeny Schaeffer recreates history, transfers it to a modern context, inviting those attending the exhibition to think about the eternal questions of justice, power and fate.

Of particulate importance, is that the artist not only depicts the tragic events, but also immerses the viewer in deep reflection on the role of history in our lives, on how the past affects the present and the future.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by the director of the Department of Culture of the Russian Nobility Assembly Alexander Schaeffer, members of the clergy, parishioners of the Pushchino Church, among others. A cleric of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Pushchino, Sergiy Girilovich, served a moleben [supplication prayer service] to the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers.

The Romanov Family Album exhibition runs until 31st May 2024, at the House of Scientists in Pushchino. Admission is FREE.

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*As I have noted in similiar posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in post-Soviet Russia – PG

Nicholas II exhibition opens in Kazan

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 22nd May 2024 – the Feast Day of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker [Nicholas II’s patron saint] from Myra to Bari, the Royal Holiness: Russian Emperor Nicholas II and His Family exhibition, opened at the Museum of the Kazan Diocese in the city of Kazan. Tatarstan.

The exhibition was organized by the Museum of the Kazan Diocese with the participation of the Museum of the Holy Royal Family in Ekaterinburg, the Museum of Emperor Nicholas II in Moscow, the Scientific Library of the Lobachevsky Kazan Federal University, the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan, the State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the Heritage of the Empire Foundation in Moscow.

The exhibition features many photographs depicting the private and public life of Russia’s last Tsar and his family, video materials, unique historical documents, including a copy of the Coronation Albums, as well as invitations to the ceremonies, menus, souvenirs and posters of the Coronation celebrations, held in Moscow in May 1896.

The exhibition also covers the topics of the unity of the Imperial Family, the Christian upbringing of the August children, Nicholas and Alexandra’s devotion to one other and to their children, as well as the influence of faith on the Tsar’s political decision-making.

The exhibition was opened by Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan. Honoured guests included Chairman of the Heritage of the Empire Foundation Lieutenant General L.P. Reshetnikov, politicians and cultural figures from Moscow, Kazan and Ekaterinburg, and members of the clergy of the Kazan Diocese.

After the opening ceremony, a concert of choirs of the Kazan Diocese took place – a male choir under the direction of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan Denis Rogov, a mixed choir under the direction of Marina Litvinenko, and the choir of the Kazan Theological Seminary.

The Royal Holiness: Russian Emperor Nicholas II and His Family exhibition will run from 23rd May to 31st July 2024, at the Museum of the Kazan Diocese, which is located at the Kazan Monastery of the Mother of God of the Kazan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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*As I have noted in similiar posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in post-Soviet Russia – PG

Romanov exhibit opens in Djulber Palace, Crimea

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 8th May 2024, a permanent exhibit opened in Djulber (aka Dulber) Palace, the former Crimean residence of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich. The exhibit is dedicated to the history of the palace and the events of the Russian Civil War, when members of the Imperial Family were being held there under house arrest.

In preparation of the exhibit, materials were studied, in order to preserve the history of Djulber, which includes unique historic documents and photographs, as well as artifacts from private collections.

The exhibit is a joint project of the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), the Russian State Naval Archive, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, as well as the Vorontsov and Livadia Palaces, the Anton Chekhov House-Museum in Yalta and the Yalta Historical and Literary Museum.

The exhibit also presents copies of watercolors by Nikolai Krasnov, rare archival photographs of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna taken at Ai-Todor, letters, telegrams, pre-revolutionary newspapers, architectural plans and sketches of the palace by Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich.

Rare documents on the imprisonment of members of the Imperial Family are exhibited in glass showcases. For example, the protocols of searches in the grand ducal estates, with the personal signatures of the Romanovs and arrest orders, which were sealed and stamp “CONFIDENTIAL”.

The opening of the exhibit is timed to the 10th anniversary of the reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation in 2014. The exhibit was implemented, thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea

The exhibition curators are already searching for new artifacts to add to the museum. They also have plans to expand the current exhibit, which will explore the activities and merits of the Grand Dukes Peter Nikolaevich and Alexander Mikhailovich

Today, Djulber is a popular sanitorium and health resort, however, the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday.

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The Djulber or Dulber Palace was built between 1895 to 1897, in the village of Koreiz, located on the southern coast of Crimea, by order of Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich (1864-1931), the younger brither of Grand Duke Nikolai “Nikolasha” Nikolaevich (1856-1929), and cousin of Emperor Nicholas II. The palace was built in the Moorish Revival Style by the famous Yalta architect Nikolai Krasnov, who also designed and built Livadia Palace.

Djulber or dülber is Crimean Tatar for “beautiful”, originally from Persian, del-bar “heart-stealing”, “beloved or beautiful”. It is an “asymmetrical architectural extravaganza” with crenellated walls, silver domes, and more than 100 rooms, inspired by the Mameluk architecture of 15th-century Cairo.

The Moorish style elements of the palace, include domed towers, decorated with Eastern ornaments. Above the entrance is a saying from the Koran written in Arabic script, “blessing all those who enter”. Despite this, the palace was consecrated according to Orthodox canons.

The palace had strong high walls that could withstand a military assault. Little did Peter know, that these walls would protect both him, his family and relatives in 1919, when Djulber provided a temporary safe haven the Romanovs.

Following the February 1917 Revolution, the Provisional Government allowed close relatives of Emperor Nicholas II to go to the Crimea, where many of them maintained beautiful estates doted along the Black Sea coast. Among them were the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Dukes Peter Nikolaevich, Alexander Mikhailovich, Nikolai Nikolaevich and their respective families. Following the October 1917 Revolution, which ushered in Lenin the Bolsheviks, anti-Romanov sentiment on the peninsula grew at an alarming pace, their lives were now in grave danger.

In 1919, the Romanovs were transferred to Djulber Palace under the protection of the Commissar of the Sevastopol Council Philip Zadorozhny and a detachment of sailors of the Black Sea Fleet. They were preparing for an assault, by the Yalta Bolsheviks, who were thirsty for the blood of the Imperial Family. Machine guns were installed on the roof of the palace. The Romanovs were imprisoned, which eventually saved their lives. In April 1919, members of the Imperial Family left Russia for good, after being rescued by the British battleship HMS Marlborough.

During the years of Soviet power, Djulber, like the other Romanov palaces in Crimea, were used for recreation and health purposes, Djuler was turned into a health resort for high-ranking government officials only, and off limits to workers and peasants. Djulber remains a remains a popular sanitorium to this day,

‘The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy’ exhibit opens at Faculty of Humanities, Moscow

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 11th April 2024, the exhibition ‘The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy’ opened at the Higher School of Economics, Faculty of Humanities in Moscow.

The participants of the opening of the exhibit enjoyed a performance by the choir of the Sretensky Theological Academy, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition, by one of the curators of the project, Mikhail Googe.

The exhibition presents more than 200 historical photographs depicting the life and service of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. The exhibition is divided into three themes:

• Love and family: the love shared by Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, which was extended to their five children.

• State service of Nicholas II: the patriotic duties of the last Russian emperor, his economic reforms and the welfare of his subjects.

• Works of mercy: charitable and patronage activities of the Imperial Family.

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The photo project The Tsar’s Family: Love and Mercy was created in 2016 by the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow. The travelling exhibition has already been presented in Serbia, Germany, Italy, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Czech Republic. The exhibition has also been presented in many cities of Russia: Moscow, Voronezh, Kursk, Ryazan, Penza, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Velikiye Luki, etc.

*As I have noted in similiar posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in post-Soviet Russia – PG